Wonderful Indonesia Tourism Fair (WITF) 2024’s debut edition in Jakarta last week brought together 150 local sellers and 225 buyers from across the country and overseas, as well as some 2,000 walk-ins, resulting in about 5,000 scheduled appointment sessions over three days.
The event, supported by Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, was the first B2B travel market of the Association of the Indonesian Tourism Businesses (GIPI), whose membership comprises 36 tourism-related associations in the country.
Inspired by the success of the inaugural edition, Budi Tirtawisata, steering committee chairman said subsequent shows would be “better and bigger”. There are plans to hold WITF every October in Jakarta – it will return from October 8 to 10 in 2025.
Haryadi Sukamdani, GIPI chairman, said “buyers are confident on the Indonesia as a destination”, as interest in WITF ran high even though only 18 per cent of total buyers in attendance was fully hosted.
Haryadi also highlighted that many buyers were new to Indonesia and keen to promoting destinations beyond Bali. These buyers were building their local partner network.
Nur Hidajat, owner and director of Warna Indonesia Tour and Travel, East Java said new buyers meant new opportunities for him. He commented that buyers he met during WITF had “detailed questions and discussions”, and were “seriously interested” in nature and adventure programmes.
“In fact, one of them plans on trying our programme in his next visit to Indonesia,” Hidajat said.
Besides a strong buyer profile, WITF also boasted a wide variety of products and services. Tour operators, hotels, regional tourism offices, recreational parks, an entertainment company, the state-owned railway company, live-aboard services and technology service providers were among the spread of sellers.
At the pavilion taken by the Association of the Indonesian Recreational Parks were a number of theme park representatives, including Taman Safari Indonesia’s Java and Bali safari parks;15 theme parks and shopping outlets belonging to Jatim Park Group; Orchid Forest Cikole, West Java; and Saung Mang Udjo Bandung.
White Horse Group, Sumber Alam Group and Blue Bird Group also participated in the fair to showcase their tour buses as well as taxi and car rental services.
Kai, the Indonesia Railway Company, showed off its luxury Dining on Train, a special wagon set up as a fine-dining venue for 16 people who will tuck into a three-course meals during a train ride.
Tourism villages also enjoyed the spotlight with the support of BCA Bank, which had taken up a booth for representatives.
Overseas buyers had good things to say about WITF, particularly how the variety of tourism products and services featured were able to help them build programmes for customers who have already been to established Indonesian destinations.
Flora He, product and operation supervisor at GZL International Travel Service, Guangzhou, China, needed nature and cultural ideas for customers who now hoped to explore Yogyakarta, Komodo National Park, Java and Sumatera.
Muhammad Ashraf, director of Urdham Tours and Travels, Lahore, Pakistan, was in search of adventure, nightlife and shopping destinations for his corporate groups.
Quizzed on how delegates wanted the show to improve, buyers and sellers told TTG Asia they hoped for a better appointment scheduling system and guidance for delegates unfamiliar with the B2B appointment format.
BP Tan of GypsetXperiences, Malaysia suggested that the organising committee could hire a consultant to help with B2B appointment management.
